travelinhobo

I'm posting this here for future touring cyclists who are looking for info on the SJV.

If you're thinking of biking the SJV, I highly suggest against it. The roads and drivers and scenery are all good. However, there are countless dog owners, both in the countryside and in the small villages, which don't follow the laws and let their dogs loose. I have given up on this valley because I'm worn down of being chased by these dogs. They come out of fields and property, some of them vicious, some of them just wanting to play tag. But it's impossible to tell which are safe or dangerous. My pepper spray has been solely on dogs - not once on a person which is what it was intended for when bought.

I began my trip in McFarland, 50 miles south of Visalia. My bike was stolen in Visalia. Apparently, Visalia is well known for its bike thefts, mostly done by the transients who either need cheap transport to their next destination or want bike parts. Many theories abound and no, I'm not throwing around the word 'transient' lightly. The biking community was wonderful to me, helping me out with trying to find a replacement, but the cops were absolutely useless (another fact well-known throughout the valley). In fact, bike thefts happen so often, that the cops don't even come out to take a report. After speaking to many people in the city and other cities, essentially if you insist on biking this valley, remember this rule: any town under the size of 25K is safe. Any above it, make sure you have a U-lock and be paranoid about losing your belongings.

This info comes from an experienced touring cyclist: 23 countries, developed and undeveloped.

RandomlyWest

travelinhobo, could you (or a moderator) share this post in the Touring or NorCal forum?I'd be curious to know if others have had similar experiences with dogs and bike thieves in the SJV, whether out on a day ride or a multi-day tour.

CB HI

Maybe it is time to upgrade from the pepper spray:
https://www.amazon.com/Mace-Defense-...words=mace+gun
https://www.amazon.com/Mace-Brand-Am...N7FC7T5KAJ8Z0H

3949dxer

I've read that most of the California aqueduct through the SJV is legally bike-able. Certainly no dogs there. Any comments anyone?

RandomlyWest

Yes, the California aqueduct is legally bikeable from the far edge of the East Bay (out by Altamont) down to Santa Nella. You'll find a nice overview of the route at Crazy Guy on a Bike:

crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?page_id=9607

Back in the 1980s, the California Aqueduct was open to bikes between Quail Lake (Gorman) and Silverwood Lake. (Gorman > Palmdale > Pearblossom > Hesperia > Silverwood Lake.) Liability concerns and worries about biker safety (high desert winds, slippery sides, remote stretches) resulted in the California Dept. of Water Resources closing that 107-mile stretch to bikes. If it is ever reopened, it will be an epic ride, with eastbound as the preferred direction. People do "sneak on" and bike short segments of the southern section, but they risk heavy fines and prosecution in doing so.

Curiously, the DWR's early 1990s prohibition on bikes for the southern section of the Aqueduct was never extended to the northern section.

TrojanHorse

You have a track record of dogging every single place you have cycled in California. Why should this be any different?

Waste of e-ink.

Bad Lag

How was your bike stolen? Did they cut the lock? Was it a robbery? Was it left somewhere unlocked?


In what way would a U-lock help?

Garfield Cat

If they let bike riders near the aqueduct wouldn't that be an open invitation for malicious water contamination?

Then how about the illegal pot farms on public property in the northern regions of California? I sometimes hear stories that its dangerous to travel the back roads.